Mechanism for transferring stitches from needles of knitting machine and sewing

ABSTRACT

A mechanism for the transfer of stitches from the needles of knitting machine and sewing. The invention relates to the elements that ensure transfer of a textile material such as a sock from the knitting needles after being knitted in the knitting machine and the elements in the station where the open end of the textile material is sewn off.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The invention is an improved version of the mechanism described in the patent numbered EP2377979, and in particular, it relates to the elements that ensure transfer of a textile material such as a sock from the knitting needles after being knitted in the knitting machine and the elements in the station where the open end of the textile material is sewn off.

2. Description of the Related Art

Tubular textile products such as socks are manufactured by being knitted in cylindrical knitting machines. One end of the textile product, which has two open ends, is then moved away from the needles of the knitting machine and brought to the toe-closing station and sewed off therein. The transfer of the tubular textile product from knitting machine to toe-closing station can be carried out, for example, by means of an automatic mechanism as described in EP2377979.

As described in EP2377979, when sock-knitting process in knitting machine is completed, the knitted stitches on the last row are taken from the knitting needles one by one by means of transfer elements and stripping elements, and transferred to a toe-closing station, which is at a location distant from knitting needles.

The transfer elements described in EP2377979 (for example, as shown in FIG. 31-38) include a front opening 1e, and the hooks of the knitting needles are inserted into this front opening prior to stitch transfer. In order to ensure this, the width of said front openings should be of a certain thickness. Otherwise, the hooks of the knitting needles cannot be inserted into transfer elements. Such a construction requires more precise positioning controls between the transfer elements and knitting needles, however it leads to disadvantages such as use of transfer elements that are thicker than required, thereby increased use of force for the movement of the heavier mass and cost increase. In addition, the transfer parts described in EP2377979 include material filler at the farthest end for attachment of knitting needle hooks, which is hard and costly to produce such a complex geometry.

On the other hand, the toe-closing station to which the stitches conveyed by the transfer elements are transferred comprises mainly a circular shaped structure where one-half can be opened and closed over another by a 180° rotation.

One-half circle contains various numbers of female threads arranged as a protrusion along this half circle, while the other one includes the same number of male threads arranged in the same manner as a protrusion along this half circle.

When one-half circle is closed over the other one, a form conformity is ensured between male threads and female threads. In the next step to take place after one-half circle is closed over the one, the stitches in one-half circle will be approached to the stitches in the other one, so that the stitches then can be sewn and the end of the textile material can be sewn off.

As is known from the application, the half circle, which typically bears the female thread, is closed (and opened) on the half circle bearing the male threads, and the stitches on the female threads are approached to the stitches in the male threads. Thus, the toe-closing process, i.e. the sewing process, is performed when the stitches approached each other are on the male threads. Therefore, the male threads comprises a specific form. Because the sewing needle should get very closer to stitch pairs that are approaching each other; otherwise, the sewing process of stitches approaching, otherwise sewing cannot be carried out. To summarize, the male threads comprises a running clearance at the point where they bear the stitch pairs so that the sewing needle can enter/exit the stitch pairs. This clearance may be in the form of a U-shaped or V-shaped channel in EP2377979 (for example, FIG. 30) or EP0942086 (for example, FIGS. 76A, and 76B). However, for example, when the stitch pairs are relatively stretched, these known forms sometimes prevent the needle from finding the proper running clearance and may cause the seam to be made improperly, or even breaking of sewing needle. A top view of the V-shaped channel structure, stitch and sewing needle representing the known status of the art is shown in FIG. 30.

Even though the toe-closing process (sewing process) is performed on male threads in practice, theoretically, the half circle bearing the male threads can also be closed on the half circle bearing the female threads and in this case, the female threads can be configured to comprise the forms such as a U shape or V shape for sewing as mentioned above. To summarize, the threads in which the stitch pairs are sewn, i.e. toe-closing process is performed, comprise a form such as a U shape or V shape.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the invention is to provide efficient transfer of the textile material stitches, which are knitted in tubular shape, from the knitting needles.

An objective of the invention is to provide efficient sewing of the stitches transferred. To achieve the objectives, the invention is related to a mechanism that comprises a knitting machine having several knitting needles, of which each has a hook and a tongue that can approach to and move away from this hook by rotation; stripping elements to convey the stitch in each knitting needle to a sewing station, which can approach to and move away from knitting needles and move them along the needle axis by touching the stitch in each knitting needle and a transfer apparatus including transfer elements, which can approach to and move away from the hooks of knitting needles and which comprise an end portion where the stitches are brought on when stripping elements move the stitches in the knitting needles towards the hooks.

Here, each transfer element is configured to grip at least partially an outer surface of the hook of each knitting needle, and each transfer element comprises of an end portion configured to remain between the needle and the hook when the needle tongue for is closed the stitch transfer.

In addition, with respect to the mechanism according to the invention, the cross-section of the first longitudinal threads bearing the stitch pairs of the sewing station, in which stitches conveyed by the transfer apparatus are sewn, is substantially formed in an L shape.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In FIG. 1, a representative isometric view of the moment when stripping element starts to push the stitch downwards in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 2, a representative isometric view of the moment when stripping element pushes the stitch downwards in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 3, a representative isometric view of the moment when stripping element moves away from the stitch in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 4, a representative isometric view of the moment when stripping element starts to move downwards in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 5, a representative isometric view of the moment when stripping element approaches to the stitch and grips it from the bottom in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 6, a representative isometric view of the moment when stripping element pushes the stitch upwards in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 7, a representative isometric view of the moment when stripping element completely unhooks the stitch in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 8, a representative isometric view of the moment when stripping element and the transfer element move away from the knitting needle in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 9, a representative isometric view of the moment when the stitches are brought to sewing station in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 10, a representative isometric view of the moment when the stitch is engaged with the thread in the sewing station by the upward movement of stripping and transfer elements in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 11, a representative isometric view of the moment when the transfer element moves away from the thread by upward movement in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 12, a representative isometric view of the moment when the transfer element moves away from the thread by radial movement in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 13, a representative isometric view of the moment when a half circle is closed over another and the stripping element grips the stitch in the closed half circle from the bottom in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 14, a representative isometric view of the moment when the stitch pair is brought side by side on the thread of half circle by stripping element in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 14A, a partially enlarged view illustrating an end portion of the male thread in FIG. 14 being inserted into the end housing of the female thread is given.

In FIG. 15, a representative isometric view of the moment when the stitch pair is sewed in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 16, a front view of Fig. provides the front view of the stitch transferring given.

In FIG. 17, a front view of FIG. 6 is given.

In FIG. 18, a front view of the moment before the stitches are engaged to the threads of sewing station with stripping and transfer elements after being transferred from knitting needles is given.

In FIG. 19, a front view of the moment when the stitches are engaged to the threads of sewing station with stripping and transfer elements is given.

In FIG. 20, a front view of the moment when the transfer elements move away from the threads by upward movement after the stitches are engaged to the threads of sewing station is given.

In FIG. 21, a front view of the moment when the transfer elements move away from the threads by radial movement after the stitches are engaged to the threads of sewing station is given.

In FIG. 22, a front view of the moment when the stripping and transfer elements move away from the threads by downward movement is given.

In FIG. 23, a front view of the moment when a half circle is closed over another in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 24, a front view of the moment when the stitch pair is brought side by side on the thread of half circle by stripping element in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 25, a front view of the moment when the stripping and transfer elements move away from the sewing station in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 26, a front view of the moment when the half circle, which transfers stitches to the threads of the other half circle, returns back to initial position (open) is given.

In FIG. 27, a front view of the moment when the stitch pair is sewed in the mechanism subject of the invention is given.

In FIG. 28, a schematic view illustrating the structure of the transfer element is given.

In FIG. 29, a cross-section view of the male threads with stitch and sewing needle is given.

In FIG. 30, a cross-section view of the male threads of background art with stitch and sewing needle is given.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned and further advantages and features of the present invention will be understood by reference to the description of the preferred embodiment in conjunction with the accompanying drawings where the components are illustrated based on a proportion for explanation but not subject to the actual component proportion. Embodiments of the present invention are illustrated in detail along with the drawings. However, the technical features included by the present invention are not limited to certain embodiments hereby provided. Scope of the present invention shall be referred to the claims, which include all the possible replacements, modifications, and equivalent features.

In this detailed description, the mechanism subject of the invention is described only by examples, which do not have any limiting effect on a better understanding of the subject.

The invention relates to a mechanism that ensures transfer of, in particular, sock from the machine, in which it is manufactured by knitting, to a sewing station where toe sewing is applied.

As described in EP2377979, when the knitting process of the sock in sock manufacturing machines is completed, the toe of the sock is open and the last stitches 73 on the toe remain on a needle 10 of the knitting machine. Various numbers of stripping element 31 and transfer elements 41 are used to enable sewing of the sock toe as described in EP2377979. These elements are placed opposing each other inside two rackets (not shown in the drawings) facing each other.

FIG. 1-FIG. 8 show how the last stitches 73 remained on the knitting needles 10 are removed by means of stripping elements 31 and transfer elements 41 step by step. The steps of abovementioned process are substantially as described in EP2377979. In other words, the transfer elements 41 are approached to the hooks 11 of the knitting needles by pushing of drive end 43, and the stripping elements 31, by again pushing of drive end 33, firstly grips the top of stitches 73 and then move downwards to unhook them from knitting needle tongues 12.

In this invention, the bottom of transfer elements 41 comprises of a curved form that is compatible with the outer surface of the needle hooks 11 and is clamped to be positioned on the outer surfaces of the hooks 11 so that it can preferably cover the outer surfaces of the hooks partially 11 when the transfer elements 41 approach to the hooks 11 for stitch 73 transfer. Abovementioned curved form at the bottom of each transfer element 41 is preferably configured to cover mainly the region at the top and the outer front surface of each needle hook.

The transfer ends 42 of the transfer elements 41 are positioned in front of the hooks 11 so as to partially cover the ends of the hooks 11 from outer side and so that they are held at a position slightly lower than the open end of the hook when the transfer elements 41 approach the hooks 11 for stitch 73 transfer.

The transfer ends 42 of the transfer elements 41 may preferably include a curved form toward the body of the knitting needles. In this way, when the knitting needle tongue 12 is closed in the next step (see FIG. 17), the stitch 73 can be transferred in a relatively safe manner.

As seen in FIG. 3, the stripping elements 31 return back slightly after unhooking the stitches 73 from needle tongues 12 by moving the stitches 73 downwards via the pressure applied by end portions 32; and as seen in FIG. 5, it moves forward and grasps the stitches 73 from the bottom. In the next step, as seen in FIG. 6, it moves the stitches 73 upwards and meanwhile the needle tongues 12 are closed. In this case, the transfer end 42 remains between the needle hook 11 and the needle tongue 12. When the stripping elements 31 moves upwards further, each stitch 73 is now transferred to the respective transfer element 41.

In the next step, as seen in FIG. 8, the transfer elements 41 move away from the knitting needles 10 together with the stripping elements 31 to the sewing station where the toe-closing process is performed.

As seen in FIG. 18, after the transfer elements 41 and the stripping elements 31 are positioned under the jaw unit 50, they move upwards as seen in FIG. 19, and then engaged to the first longitudinal threads and the second longitudinal threads supplied with an interval of 360° around the jaw unit. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first longitudinal threads are defined as the male threads 511, and the second longitudinal threads are defined as the female threads 521. The male threads 511 are fastened to the respective jaw by means of the male fixing portions 512 extending inward thereon, while the female threads 521 are likewise fastened to the respective jaw by means of female fixing portions 522 extending inward thereon.

FIG. 9-FIG. 12 show the steps of transfer of a stitch 73 to a male thread 511. Each transfer element 41 comprises transfer lower bottom body 45 that slightly protrudes out the vertically extending body wherein there is a transfer channel 44 formed in a U-like shape. When the transfer elements 41 and the stripping elements 31 move upwards together, each thread 511, 521 are inserted into each transfer channel 44, and the stitches 73 are released to the male extension portion 513 of the male threads 511 and to the female extension portion 523 of the female threads 521. Afterwards, the transfer elements 41 and the stripping elements 31 move away from the male threads 511 and the female threads 521. Each male thread 511 has an end portion 515, and each female thread 521 has an end housing 524.

As shown by FIG. 28, each transfer element 41 comprises a plate body 46, and the transfer lower bottom body 45 slightly protrudes from the bottom portion of the plate body 46. Therein, the transfer lower bottom body 45 has a transfer channel 44 which forms a first lateral plate 451, a second lateral plate 452, and a connection plate 453, wherein the first lateral plate 451 and the second lateral plate 452 are arranged in parallel and spaced with each other. The two lateral sides of the connection plate 453 are connected with the first lateral plate 451 and the second lateral plate 452, respectively. In an embodiment of the present invention, the first lateral plate 451 has a first bevel portion 454 on one end away from the plate body 46. The second lateral plate 452 has a second bevel portion 455 formed corresponding to the first bevel portion 454. The first bevel portion 454 and the second bevel portion 455 are inclined to face the lower-back direction on one side on which the transfer channel 44 is formed, respectively. The first bevel portion 454 and the second bevel portion 455 are formed in a symmetric profile. Also, the first bevel portion 454 and the second bevel portion 455 form a part of the curved form at the bottom of the transfer element 41, so as to correspond to the curved form of the transfer end 42 for covering the outer surface of the hook 11.

The plate body 46 has the drive end 43, a body portion 461, and an extension part 462. The drive end 43 extends upward from the rear end of the body portion 461, and the extension part 462 extends downward from the front end of the body portion 461 away from the drive end 43. The bottom end of the extension part 462 is connected with the transfer lower bottom body 45. A curve recess 463 is formed on one lateral side of the drive end 43 away from the body portion 461. A third bevel portion 464 is formed on the outer side of the extension part 462. A fourth bevel portion 465 is formed on the inner side of the extension part 462. A shoulder portion 466 is formed on the junction between the extension part 462 and the transfer lower bottom body 45.

As seen in FIG. 23, the jaw unit 50 comprises two half circles, one of which is fixed jaw 51 and the other is movable jaw 52. In accordance with the preferred embodiment, the movable jaw 52 bearing the female threads 521 can be closed over the fixed jaw 51 bearing the male threads 511 and opened by a 180° rotation. As in FIG. 23, when the movable jaw 52 is closed over the fixed jaw 51, the end portions 515 of the male threads 511 are inserted into the end housings 524 of the female threads 521 (as shown by FIG. 14A) for smoothly transferring the stitch 73 between the male thread 511 and the female thread 521. Then, as seen in FIG. 24, the transfer elements 41 and the stripping elements 31 move upwards, push up the stitches in the female threads 521, bring them next to the stitches borne by the male threads 511 and then move away from the jaw unit 50.

In the next step, the movable jaw 52 opens and returns back to initial position, and then a sewing needle 80 sews each stitch 73 pair on the male thread 511, and closes the open end of the textile material.

The cross section of the threads to which the stitch 73 pairs are engaged for sewing, male threads 511 are shown in this description, is substantially formed in an L shape. Therefore, as seen in FIG. 29, the male threads 511 comprise of a lateral extension 514 extending substantially perpendicular from the vertically-extending male extension portion 513.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A mechanism for transferring stitches from needles of knitting machine and sewing, comprising: a knitting machine having a plurality of knitting needles, each knitting needle has a hook and a tongue which moves toward and away from the hook by rotation; a plurality of stripping elements convey a stitch in each of the knitting needles to a sewing station, the stripping elements move toward and away from the knitting needles and move the stitches along a needle axis by touching the stitch in each of the knitting needles; and a transfer apparatus including a plurality of transfer elements, which move toward and away from the hook of the knitting needles, the transfer elements comprising a transfer end onto where the stitches are brought when the stripping elements move the stitches in the knitting needles toward the hooks; wherein, each transfer element is configured to grip at least partially an outer surface of the hook of each knitting needle, and the transfer end of each transfer element is configured to remain between the a body of the knitting needle and the corresponding hook when the tongue is closed for transferring the stitch.
 2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein a bottom portion of each transfer element is formed in a curve shape, which is configured to cover mainly a region at a top surface and an outer front surface of each corresponding hook.
 3. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the transfer end of each transfer element is positioned in front of the hook, so as to partially cover an end portion of the hook from an outer side, so that the transfer end of the transfer element is held at a location lower than an open end of the corresponding hook when the transfer element approaches the hook for transferring the stitch.
 4. The mechanism according to claim 3, wherein the transfer end of each transfer element includes a curved form portion toward the body of the knitting needle.
 5. The mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the transfer element comprises a plate body and a transfer lower bottom body which slightly protrudes from a bottom portion of the plate body, with an U-like transfer channel formed on the transfer lower bottom body.
 6. The mechanism according to claim 5, wherein the transfer lower bottom body has the transfer channel which forms a first lateral plate, a second lateral plate, and a connection plate; the first lateral plate and the second lateral plate are arranged in parallel and spaced with each other; two lateral sides of the connection plate are connected with the first lateral plate and the second lateral plate, respectively.
 7. The mechanism according to claim 6, wherein the first lateral plate has a first bevel portion on one end away from the plate body; the second lateral plate has a second bevel portion formed corresponding to the first bevel portion; the first bevel portion and the second bevel portion are inclined to face a lower-back direction on one side on which the transfer channel is formed, respectively; the first bevel portion and the second bevel portion form the curved form portion.
 8. The mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the plate body has the drive end, a body portion, and an extension part; the drive end extends upward from a rear end of the body portion, and the extension part extends downward from a front end of the body portion away from the drive end; a bottom end of the extension part is connected with the transfer lower bottom body; a curve recess is formed on one lateral side of the drive end away from the body portion; a third bevel portion is formed on an outer side of the extension part; a fourth bevel portion is formed on an inner side of the extension part; a shoulder portion is formed on a junction between the extension part and the transfer lower bottom body, and the shoulder portion is on one side of the connection plate.
 9. A sewing station mechanism for closing an open end of a textile material formed in a tubular shape, comprising: a first half circle having a plurality of first longitudinal threads, an amount of the first longitudinal threads being equal to half of an amount of stitches at the last row of the open end of the textile material; a second half circle having a plurality of second longitudinal threads, an amount of the second longitudinal threads being equal to half of an amount of stitches at the last row of the open end of the textile material, the second half circle being able to rotate for 180° to move toward and away from the first longitudinal threads on the first half circle; wherein, a cross-sectional face of the first longitudinal threads bearing stitch pairs that are conveyed by the transfer apparatus and sewn is substantially formed in an L shape.
 10. The mechanism according to claim 9, wherein the first longitudinal threads with the L shaped cross-sectional face are male threads.
 11. The mechanism according to claim 9, wherein a sewing process is performed on the first longitudinal threads of the first half circle.
 12. The mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the male threads comprise a vertically extending male extension portion and a lateral extension portion which substantially extends from the male extension portion.
 13. The mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the second longitudinal threads are defined as female threads.
 14. The mechanism according to claim 13, wherein each male thread has a male fixing portion extending inward thereon, a vertically-extending male extension portion, and an end portion; each female thread has a female fixing portion extending inward thereon, a vertically-extending female extension portion, and an end housing; when the male thread moves close to the corresponding female thread, the end portions of the male thread is inserted into the end housings of the female thread for smoothly transferring the stitch between the male thread and the female thread.
 15. The mechanism according to claim 14, wherein one of the first half circle and the second half circle is a fixed jaw and the other one is a movable jaw; the movable jaw bears the female threads and is closed over the fixed jaw which bears the male threads by a 180° rotation, such that the end portions of the male threads are inserted into the corresponding end housings of the female threads. 